High hopes for researchers’ robot

It’s a robot unlike any other: Inspired by the world’s fastest land animal, controlled by video game technology and packing nifty sensors — including one used to manoeuvre drones, satellites, and ballistic missiles.

The robot, called the cheetah, can run on batteries at speeds of more than 10mph, jump about 16in-high, land safely, and continue galloping for at least 15 minutes — all while using less power than a microwave oven.

It’s the creation of researchers at the Massachusetts of Technology, who had to design key elements from scratch because of a lack of or shortcomings in existing technology.